23 September, 2016

Snowden warns new Google app will aid 'Big Brother'

U.S. National Security Agency
whistleblower Edward Snowden has criticized Google's new messaging
application, saying it is a breach of privacy and will track
everything that users will say.

The technology giant launched its
new so called “smart chat” application, Allo, on Wednesday,
promising more intelligent text conversation features, including
auto-reply options.

Snowden, also a former CIA
employee before who is now living in exile in Russia, said via
Twitter that Google’s application will “record every message
you ever send and make it available to police upon request,”
adding that Allo was “dangerous” and nicknaming the application
“Google Surveillance.”

Snowden stressed that 100 percent
of close to 1,500 surveillance requests were granted by the U.S.
foreign intelligence court and that user data stored in Allo could
easily be obtained too.